In general Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

In general - Essay Example In the original work, an author tends to own the writing by mentioning his name in it. The writer is responsible for the authenticity of information and is liable for consequences in case, the information is invalid. On the other hand, a plagiarized work lacks ownership. A reader can not believe that the writer had faith in the information he/she has included while plagiarizing in the paper. Originality in writing shows the author’s individualistic contribution in widening and deepening the sea of knowledge, whereas an individual who plagiarizes creates whirlpools in this sea. The most fundamental difference between originality and plagiarism is that the former gives birth to knowledge whereas the latter is a literary theft. Moreover, originality is clear whereas plagiarism often gets too blurred a concept to be put into black and white (â€Å"Types of Plagiarism†). For example, many times, the same old ideas have to be repeated in a new paper. If the language is suffic iently changed so as to remove the originality but the meaning is kept unchanged, would it not be a theft of idea? Different people have different answers to this question. Difference between description and analysis: Description is a straight mention of facts about a thing, matter, incident or anything.

Consumer Buying Behavior Comparison in Marketing Strategies Essay Example for Free

Consumer Buying Behavior Comparison in Marketing Strategies Essay In order to help creating new offerings, improving communication, organizing delivery and, eventually, increasing the sale. It is important to understand the consumer buying behavior from situational, personality and social aspects. This paper will briefly discuss the marketing strategies of two giant retail department stores, Walmart and Macy’s, in terms of customer buying behaviors. Macy’s atmospheric settings provide strong stimuli for its customers. First, every season, Macy’s puts up different window showcases to demonstrate its classic and artistic tastes. Also, different ambient colors are used in its shopping environment. These seasonal changes should be able to boost the sale of the fashion apparel. Secondly, Macy’s decorates different themes for different holidays, such as Easter, Mother’s day, Halloween, Christmas, etc. the gift shopping behaviors are likely induced by these themes. Thirdly, Macy’s always plays a comfort and light background music, customers would spend more time into shopping with a good mood as the text points out:† People’s moods temporarily affect their spending patterns† (Tanner, J., Raymond, M. Schuster, C, 2001) On the other hand, it seems that Walmart pays a lot of attention to the shoppers’ personality factors. First, Walmart concentrates on the idea of â€Å"money saving†. Walking into a Walmart, the â€Å"Rollback† tags with two comparing prices are everywhere. The economical shoppers would compare more on the prices. Secondly, customers who prefer one stop shopping might find that Walmart, with its stock of food, toy, auto parts, etc, is more convenient than other shopping centers. Thirdly, Walmart shelves â€Å"as seen on TV† items and dollar items along the cashier to affect the shopping decisions. While waiting in the checkout line, customers are likely to pick up these items as they are categorized as low-involvement products. Moreover, social factors are also well considered by these two retail giants. In terms of social class, Macy’s focuses more on the middle-class families whereas Walmart targets on the customers with standard income. Wal-Mart exclusives have a mean household income of about $57K (Scarborough Research, 2005). Also, the products, Walmart is selling, represent the main stream of a geographical culture whereas Macy’s might satisfy some groups with special subculture interests such as high-end golf clubs or perfumes. In sum, consumer buying behavior is a very important element in the marketing strategies of a company. Situational, personality and social factors will influence the consumer buying behavior dramatically.

tragoed Elements of Tragedy in Oedipus the King (Oedipus Rex) :: Oedipus the King Oedipus Rex

Elements of Tragedy in Oedipus Rex It is not the tragic subject matter of the text that is of primary interest - but rather the manner in which the plot is developed. The story line progresses as if the reader is "unpeeling an onion." The tale of King Oedipus is well known. An enraged Oedipus unknowingly slays his father (Laiusq, King of Thebes) and supplants him as monarch and as husband to his own mother (Queen Jocasta). As each successive "layer of the onion" is unpeeled, Oedipus is brought a step closer to realizing the true nature of his actions. Foretold in prophecy and initiated by his anger, the downfall of Oedipus comes to fruition as all facts gradually come to light. This "enlightening" starts with the revelations of a blind prophet named Tiresias. Though sightless, Tiresias can "see" the truth. He argues with Oedipus "...you have your sight, and do not see... . Yea, you are ignorant... ."(Sophocles, 15). Understandably, Oedipus is enraged at the prophet's accusations and fatally insists on investigating the murder of King Laius. In Aristotle's Poetics, it is stated that a tragedy must be complete - having a beginning, middle and end. Of equal importance "...the sequence of events, according to the law of probability or necessity, will admit of a change from bad fortune to good or from good fortune to bad."(Aristotle, 15). The impetus for the downfall of Oedipus, "Known far and wide by name" (Sophocles, 1), is his anger. Enraged he slew King Laius and in anger he hastily pursued his own ruination. From the aforementioned recriminations of Tiresias to the conflict with his brother-in-law Creon (his ill temper again displayed - "Tempers such as yours most grievous to their own selves to bear,... .(Sophocles, 25); through the revealing exchanges with his wife/mother Jocasta and her slave (whose pity saved the infant Oedipus), damming insight grows in a logical sequence, all the while fueled by the Oedipal rage. Realizing the heinous nature of his actions, Oedipus blinds himself in a fit of anger and remorse - now, as Tiresias, he can see. In an age where popular entertainment is apparently guided by the maxim "more is better" (see the body count in any popular "action thriller") and "special effects" dominate,

How to Be a Football Player

How to be a Football Player Football has always been America’s natural past time. Many fans love watching football but do not realize how hard it is to prepare for a football season. Most fans think the players just show up on the one day and perform. This belief is completely false. Preparing for a football season requires much preparation. The preparation for most football players usually includes working on strength, conditioning, and fundamentals of the game. These steps are necessary for football players to have a successful season.These steps have proven to be a valuable aid in helping players such as myself prepare for the season. I believe these steps are the basic steps to becoming a great Football player. The first step to becoming a great football player is working to improve your conditioning. Conditioning is basically a way of improving your body’s endurance resistance and overall athleticism. To improve your conditioning you start off running for multiple times daily. Every second of the day you spend running your increasing your athleticism and the condition your body is in which is a very valuable concept in any sport.The more u condition the more your body will be able to endure and endurance is a big part in football if you plan to stay on the field. By increasing the condition your body is you will have set your self up in improve your physicality, endurance, and mentality. Next, you should start working out using weights to improve your chances for success in the upcoming season. I believe that this step puts you ahead of the other athletes. A strict weight training schedule has allowed many athletes to stay in top shape throughout the years.This second step is imperative to becoming a successful football player is by increasing your strength. Strength is just important as conditioning because football is game of physicality. To improve your strength you can start off with push ups dips and sits to get your body toned up. After toning your body that’s when you start lifting weights to build lean muscle instead of toning up your muscles. Weights lifting include exercises such bench press, squats, and leg presses etc. Every work out in the weight room improves different parts of the body like you chest, calves, triceps, biceps, forearms etc.By working on all these body parts different days of the week such as Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays you will continue to develop strength and your body mass. The final step in preparing for the upcoming season and being successful in football is being prepared mentally. Being mentally prepared consists of four things concentration, confidence, control and commitment. Football requires concentration because you have to be able to focus on the task that is at hand. Football requires confidence because you have to believe you achieve a certain goal then go achieve it.Control is also a part of the mental process because an athlete's ability to maintain control of th eir emotions in the face of adversity and remain positive is essential to successful performance. The fourth and final asset of the mental process is commitment, there is an insurmountable amount of things you have to remember in football and a football players performance depends on the athlete being fully committed to the game and his team if the player plans on being successful at the game. As much emphasis as athletes put on the physical aspect of the game the mental part is just as important.Football Consist of plays, assignments, coverage’s and a thousand other things that you have to be cognizant of. In conclusion, I feel that preparing to be a great football player requires much preparation. It’s not enough to just play the game you have to understand the game and how much dedication and preparation goes into the game. You have to have a great amount of endurance, strength, speed and commitment to play this sport. Once you connect all of the pieces to the puzzl e you will be a football player.

Oedipus the King: A Theme Analysis

Oedipus the King is one of the group of three plays by Sophocles known as the Theban plays since they all relate to the destinies of the Theban family of the Oedipus and his children.   The other two plays of this group are Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus. Oedipus the King relates the story of Oedipus who reached Thebes, having killed on the way an old man with whom he picked a quarrel. The city of Thebes was then suffering terribly because of the monster, the Sphinx. He solved her riddle and citizens of Thebes offered him the kingdom as city is afflicted with the loss of their king, who had been murdered while on a pilgrimage.So he assumed the power and married the widowed queen. Here the tragedy of Oedipus takes its final course. As city was afflicted with famine, so Delphic oracles were consulted who disclosed that troubles of the city arose from the fact that it is harboring an unclean person, the murderer of late king Laius. Oedipus resolved to get to the bottom of this myster y and punish the wrongdoer. However, he ultimately discovered that the culprit he was seeking was none other than he himself. He blinded himself and went on exile. There are various standpoints for looking at the theme of the play.It may be considered as a play enacting the theme of insecurity and illusoriness of human happiness. Or the theme may be that of the inadequacy of human intelligence in resolving the riddles of destiny. The identification of themes in Oedipus differs from reader to reader and from critic to critic. I think that Sophocles wanted to convey that a man is plunged from prosperity and power to ruin ands ignominy due to his own human failings.   It was something[1] in his character that brought his tragedy. Anything foreign to his own character only augmented the tragic proceedings but it was only his own disposition that made him a prey to disgrace. Dodds is of the view, â€Å"If Oedipus is the innocent victim of a doom which he cannot avoid, does this not re duce him to a mere flaw puppet?† Whereas Knox (1984) is of the view that Oedipus’ tragedy takes place due to tragic flaw[s] and fate as no part to play in Oedious Rex.Distinguished Professor Butcher has identified four possible ranges of human failings in Oedipus. The foremost of these connotations is an error due to unavoidable ignorance of circumstances whereas an error caused by unawareness of conditions that might have been identified and for that reason to some extent morally blameworthy The third range is â€Å"A fault or error where the act is conscious and intentional, but not deliberate. Such acts are committed in anger or passion.† (313) Where as fourth one is â€Å"A fault of character distinct, on the one hand, from an isolated error, and, on the other, from the vice which has its seat in the depraved will†¦a flaw of character that is not tainted with a vicious purpose.† (315)The crucial point is that whether Sophocles wants us to think th at Oedipus has basically unsound character. One way of deciding this question is to examine what other characters in the play say about Oedipus. The only result that we can arrive at in this way is that Sophocles intends us to consider Oedipus an essentially noble person. In the opening scene of the play, the priest of Zeus refers to him as the greatest and noblest of men and the divinely inspired savior who saved Thebes from being destroyed by the Sphinx. The Chorus also considers him to be noble and virtuous. They refuse to believe in Tireseas accusations of him. When catastrophe befalls Oedipus, not a single character in the play justifies it as a doom which has deservedly overtaken Oedipus. (Dodds, p.39) So there were certain other tragic flaws that were acting behind the curtain to bring about Oedipus tragedy. Let us examine those.Oedipus seems to be obsessed with his own intelligence and this leads him to very unfortunate and uncomfortable situations. This human weakness[2] of Oedipus laps over with his pride as he is extremely proud of the fact that he was able to solve the riddle of the Sphinx which had proved too much for any other person. He thinks that Gods has capacitated him with intelligence and wisdom to solve riddle that the Thebes is afflicted with. Oedipus even taunts Tireseas on his inability in solving the Sphinx’s riddle. He says;And where were you, when the Dog-faced Witch was here?Have you any word of deliverance then for our people?There was a riddle too deep for common wits;A seer should have answered it, but answer there came noneFrom you†¦..  Ã‚   (12-16)After calling the soothsayer false prophet, Oedipus boasts of his own skill in having solved the puzzled which proved too much for the blind seer;Until I came—I, ignorant Oedipus, came—And stopped the riddler’s mouth, guessing he truthBy mother-wit, not bird-lore.  Ã‚   (17-19)So he describes Tireseas predictive cautions as the whims of a fanatic and opposes the seer’s prophecy with arguments of his own. Self-confidence and pride in his own wisdom is an outstanding feature of his character that also brings his tragedy. Here Oedipus also fulfills the traits of Aristotelian tragic hero as he possesses a noble tragic flaw. The man who sets out on his new task by sending first for the venerable seer is not lacking in pious reverence; but we also observe that Oedipus manifests unrestrained arrogance in his own intellectual achievement. No seer found the solution, this is Oedipus boast; no bird, no god revealed it to him, he â€Å"the utterly ignorant† had to come on his own and hit the mark by his own wit. This is a justified pride but it amounts too much. This pride and self-confidence induce Oedipus to despise prophecy and feel almost superior to the gods. He tell the people who pray for deliverance from pathos and miseries they are afflicted with if they listen to and follow his advice in order to get a remedy.La stly his unrelenting pursuit of the truth is demonstrated when he believes he is the murderer and that Polybus was not his father, yet he continues with his search with the statement, â€Å"I must pursue this trail to the end,†(p.55).   These characteristics were only fuel to the fire and added to the pride created a blaze that consumed him. Bernard Knox eulogizes Oedipus’ â€Å"dedication to truth, whatever the cost† (p.117)Another characteristics of his character that contributes toward his tragedy is Oedipus’ longing for thoroughness. His inquisitive nature is not content with anything which is either half-hearted or incomplete. Nor can he brook any delay. He damns that the direction of the oracle should be given effect at once. As before, Oedipus speaks on the basis of the workings of his own mental faculties that has been tested time and again and have proved their intelligence.It can be said that the tragedy of Oedipus is the result more of his go od qualities than his bad ones. It is his love for Thebes which makes him send Creon to Delphi to consult the Oracles. It is the same care for his subjects who make him proclaim a ban and a curse on the murderer of Laius. It is his absolute honesty which makes him include even himself within the curse and the punishment. He replies by saying â€Å"Sick as you are, not one is sick as I, each of you suffers in himself†¦but my spirit Groans for the city, for myself, for you†.  (62-62)He is angry with Tireseas because he is unable to tolerate the fact that   although the prophet says that he know who the murderer of Laius is , he refuses top give the information to the king. His rage and rashness is due to the fact that the masses are suffering and Tireseas does not provide the murderer’s name. Oedipus cannot but regard this as a clear manifestation of the seer’s disloyalty to his city.To Oedipus the discovery of truth is more important than his own good an d safety. Even when it seems that the investigation that he is carrying on will not produce any result which will be him, he decides to carry on with it. He is so honest with himself that he inflicts the punishment of self-blinding and banishment from the city of Thebes.So his moral goodness also seems as a human failing that brings his ruin.There is another important human failing that contribute toward his tragedy i.e. his intellectual myopia. He has a limited vision and is unable to assess the situations in a right perspective. Robert L. Kane (1975) puts this preposition in this way; â€Å"He[Oedipus] was the victim of an optical illusion†. (p. 196) The juxtaposition between â€Å"outward magnificence and inward blindness of Oedipus and the outward blindness and inward sight of the prophet† (Kirkwood, p. 130) depicts two types of blindness i.e. physical and intellectual. One is related to physical sight whereas the other, the most pernicious type of blindness, perta ins to insight. Tiresias is physically blind but whereas Oedipus is blind intellectually. This intellectual blindness of Oedipus also contributes greatly to lead him to his tragic destination.Oedipus possesses faultless physical vision throughout play except in the end but he remains blind to the reality regarding himself. At one point in the play, he has the ability to see but he is not willing to do so. He intellectual vision comes with his physical loss of sight but he is unable to cast away the psychological â€Å"slings and arrows† and mental sufferings that intellectual blindness has afflicted on him. So his blindness, both intellectual at the start of the play and physical at the end of the day, is the worst.Blindness interweaves with the main plot from the very start of the play when Oedipus says, â€Å"I would be blind to misery not to pity my people kneeling at my feet. (14)† It manifest that he refers to blindness that if h will not recognize the distress of his people. This shows his physical sight but intellectual blindness as he himself was the cause of those afflictions.   Later he acknowledges that although Tiresias is physically blind but has prophetic power when he says, â€Å"Blind as you are, you can feel all the more what sickness haunts our city. (344)†. Tiresias response refers to the gravity of Oedipus’ inability to see his future. He says, â€Å"How terrible – to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees! (359)†Later on Oedipus denounces his own acknowledgement of Tiresias as a seer and abuses him by saying, â€Å"You've lost your power, stone-blind, stone-deaf – senses, eyes blind as stone!(423)† and â€Å"Blind, lost in the night, endless night that nursed you! You can't hurt me or anyone else who sees the light – you can never touch me. (425)†. It is illustrated that it is Oedipus who is blind intellectually as he is not willing to comprehend the situation and to understand the truth. In retort to his slur, Tiresias refers to worst form of blindness that Oedipus is suffering. He says, â€Å"You with your precious eyes, you're blind to the corruption of your life, to the house you live in, those who live with – who are your parents? (470)† and foretell, â€Å"Blind who now has eyes, beggar who now is rich, he will grope his way toward a foreign soil, a stick tapping before him step by step. (517)†.These supportive texts clearly manifest that Oedipus was afflicted with severe intellectual myopia as he was unable t see the truth that was pervasive all around him. Actually he was unwilling to see truth around him, prior to his physical blindness and afterwards as he blinds himself not to observe the things around him. His is the most insidious form of blindness.Oedipus can be held guilty due to another human flaw—his inability to take appropriate preventive measures. It is said that he fails to take logical steps and precaution s which would have saved him from committing the crimes.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Could not Oedipus†¦have escaped his doom if he had been more careful? Knowing that he was in danger of committing parricide and incest, would not really a prudent man have avoided quarrelling, even in self-defense and also love-relations with women older than himself?†¦ real life I suppose he might. But we not entitled to blame Oedipus either for carelessness failing to compile a hand list or lack of self-control in failing to obey its injunctions.†Ã‚  Ã‚   (Dodds, p.40)Oedipus has necessary human failings of anger and rashness. He rashly jumps into conclusions. Choragos points this out in scene II after a long speech by Creon who tries o remove the ill-fed and hastily formed suspicions of Oedipus about Creon. They say, â€Å"Judgments too quickly formed are dangerous† (II, 101)But Oedipus justifies this, arguing that ruler have to take quick decision. He says later on, â€Å"But is he not quick in his duplicity? / And shall I not be quick to parry him?† (II, 102-103) Later at the conclusion of scene II, Creon indicates the same fault in his character by saying, â€Å"Ugly in yielding, as you were ugly in rage! / Nature like yours chiefly torments themselves.† (II, 151-152) It is this rashness that makes to not merely suspect Creon but accuse him and even declares that he deserves the sentence of death. The rashness can be observed in his treatment of Tireseas. Oedipus does not lack analytical thinking but his rashness does permit him to weigh up the situation rightly and he makes hasty decision. In retrospect we see that rashness of Oedipus has something to do with the murder Laius at the hands of Oedipus. The self-blinding also is an act of rashness although Oedipus tries to give several arguments in favor of it.His bad temperament is demonstrated in the squabble between Teiresias and himself, where Teiresias utter the propheti c truth and Oedipus retorts, â€Å"Do you think you can say such things with impunity?† and afterward attributes him as a â€Å"Shameless and brainless, sightless, senseless sot!†(p.36). His character is further marked with suspicion about Creon to whom he considers as a conspirator. Kirkwood is of the view that â€Å"The Creon he [Oedipus] is battling is a figment of his imagination† (Kirkwood, 1958. p. 132) and nothing else. He says with reference his tà ªte-à  -tà ªte with Tiresaeas, â€Å"Creon! Was this trick his, then, if not yours?† So here his imagination works together with anger and rashness.All the above-mentioned manifestations of tragic flaw, their supported arguments and views of the critics clearly proves the thesis that Oedipus unavoidable ignorance was the major factor of his tragedy because he was unable to locate that the man whom he assaulted on the crossroads to Thebes was his father. Secondly, if he would not have been occupied by his aspirations, he would have possibly explored the horror of his deed and could have avoided the additional tricky situations by not marrying his mother. Thirdly, his â€Å"conscious and intentional† act includes his decision to â€Å"bring what is dark to light† (133).Furthermore, as result to revelation of Tireseas, he charges Creon with conspiracy and murder and denounces Tireases as an accessory. Although these actions were intentional and bring Oedipus to tragic end but have a clear background that illustrate that these actions were not â€Å"deliberate†. Fourthly, all these errors originate from a hasty and obstinate temperament, unjustified anger and excessive pride that compel him to an energized inquisitiveness. With the development of the plot, all these ascriptions of his character jumps back with amplified force on his head that finally culminates at his tragedy. Knox (1957) sums up in this way;â€Å"the actions of Oedipus that produce the catast rophe stem from all sides of his character; no one particular action is more essential than any other; they are all essential and they involve not any one trait of character which might be designated a hamartia but the character of Oedipus as a whole† (31).Here I want to point out that all these human failings were not innate or inborn but he developed these as his habitual formations. It was inculcated in his spirit so that it became a part of his natural disposition. If it were innate then he could not be blamed for his downfall. It was human failings rather than the destiny that brought his tragedy. So Sophocles has successfully put across that a man is plunged from prosperity and power to ruin ands ignominy due to his own human failings.ReferencesBloom, Harold. Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. : New York : Chelsea House Publishers. 1988. Butcher, S.H. Aritotle’s theory of Poetry and Fine Arts. Hell and Wang: New York. 1961.Dodds, E. R. On Misunderstanding the Oedipus. Greece & Rome. Vo. 13. No. 1. (Apr.1966). Pp. 37-49.Cook, Albert Spaulding. Oedipus Rex, a mirror for Greek drama. Prospect Heights, Ill. : Waveland Press.1982. Gould, Thomas. Greek tragedy. Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press. 1977. Gould, Thomas. Oedipus the King: A Translation with Commentary. Englewood Cliffs. 1970. Kane, Robert L. Prophecy and Perception in the Oedipus Rex. Transaction of theAmerican Philological Association. Vol. 105 (1975). pp. 189-208.Kirkwood, G.M. A study of Sophoclean drama. Ithaca, N.Y., Cornell University Press. 1958. Knox, Bernard. Oedipus at Thebes. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1957. Knox, Bernard. Introduction to The Three Theban Plays. New York & London: PenguinBooks,1984.O’ Brien, John M. Twentieth century interpretations of Oedipus Rex; a collection of critical essays. Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall. 1968 [1] Moral flaw, habitual formations, behavioral defect etc. [2] in any other context, pride in one’s intelligence cannot not a human weakness but course of the play depicts clearly that in Oedipus the King it was a human weakness.

Oates and Where are You Going, Where Have You Been

Oates and Where are You Going, Where Have You Been You Arent Going Anywhere: A Feminist Critique of Joyce Carol Oates The story â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where have You Been,† by Joyce Carol Oates, is the story about a young girls attempts who tries to gets free from the surrounding and acts accordingly, drawing the attention of a dangerous man. The main character in the story, Connie, lives in a small town with her mother, father, and Connies older sister. Although Connie is fifteen, she realizes that males find her attractive. She defines herself in opposition to her mother and sister, the former used to be beautiful, and the latter never was.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Oates and Where are You Going, Where Have You Been? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The unfortunate aspect of the story is that Connie plays up her attractiveness and plays the roll that other people want her to have, the one of a beautiful girl. Using a feminist critique, we can see h ow Connie leads herself to her unfortunate fate by allowing to be unwittingly trapped in the patriarchal gender roles of society. The photograph of Connies mother where she was younger is a symbol of the emptiness that comes from defining oneself solely through ones looks. Connies mom was a very attractive woman in her youth, but growing older, she lost those looks. When the mother sees the pictures of her daughter, she recognizes the beauty that she once had but lost. This is the major loss for the mother, since she apparently never learned to define herself in any other manner. Once her looks were gone, there was nothing left of the woman. As such, she envies her own daughters physical attractiveness and acts in a mean way towards Connie. Her mother, who noticed everything and knew everything and who hadnt much reason to look at her own face, is always scolding Connie for it. Stop gawking at yourself. Who are you? You think youre so pretty?. (Oates) Since her mother is obviously j ealous of her, Connie feels as though she is right in valuing her looks in the way she does. To Connie, physical attractiveness is so important that nothing else seems to matter, so she doesnt hold any regard for what other people might have to offer. Instead of listening to anything that her mother has to say, Connie feels as though she can simply dismiss anything that her mother might have to say to her, which is simply another way for a woman to keep herself trapped. For example, she can hardly believe that the woman in the pictures is really her mother: Her mother was pretty too, if one could believe those old snapshots in the album, but now her looks were gone and that is why she has always been after Connie. For Connie, being beautiful is simple, the state which you are to inherit, and like all young and immature people, she doesnt have any idea how easily it can be lost, whether slowly over time like her mother did, or having it suddenly and violently ripped away from her. Th e thing that she ran away with a boy foolishly led Connie to believe that she matured further than her older sister and anyone else in her own age group. It appears to almost be a game for her, but when she finally realized what the price of her desires were, it was too late.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Being only fifteen, Connie has yet to realize that she has defined herself by the way other people view her, which is through her looks only. She has become trapped in her own assets, and this stunts her growth as a whole person. While she views herself as using these tools to her advantage, in reality she is doing nothing but harming herself and her ability to survive in life. While at times Connie gets excited and enjoys the attention that she receives, she quickly realizes how terrifying unwanted attention of this kind from the wrong person can be. When Arnol d Friend tells her that he was Gonna get you, baby, she quickly realizes that not only she is trapped, but she has been trapped all that time by allowing herself to be defined in such a manner. What Arnold does is to treat her as a mere physical attribute, thus, neglecting her personality. He thinks he has the right to do the horrible things with her: Arnold Friend stabs her with words again and again with no regret. After that she becomes withdrawn form the rest of the world. Once it happens to her, she no longer has any forces to struggle, live and survive. We can see Connies unequivocal surrendering and resignation when she allows people to treat her as an object but not a person, that is something that she has been allowing to do to herself all those years unconsciously. At the end of the story, she has completely broken away from herself and any sense of self-identity; she views the events as though they are happening to somebody else and not to her: She put out her hand agains t the screen. She watched herself push the door slowly open as if she were back safe somewhere in the other doorway, watching this body and this head of long hair moving out into the sunlight where Arnold Friend waited. (Oates) The story does not have a clear ending, we see Connie fully losing herself and becoming fully trapped within this patriarchal system represented by the terrible and dangerous Arnold Friend. This main aspect of Connie completely breaking away from herself and surrendering herself and her sense of identity is what we need to realize from this story which shows the readers the dangers that women face in a prison of patriarchy. Oates, Joyce Carol, â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?† Epoch, Fall 1996, https://celestialtimepiece.com/2015/01/21/where-are-you-going-where-have-you-been/ You Arent Going Anywhere: A Feminist Critique of Joyce Carol OatesAdvertising We will write a custom essay sample on Oates and Where are You Going, Where H ave You Been? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

Definition of Void in C and C

Definition of Void in C and C In computer programming, when  void  is used as a function return type, it indicates that the function does not return a value. When void appears in a pointer declaration, it specifies that the pointer is universal. When used in a functions parameter list, void indicates that the function takes no parameters.   Void as a Function Return Type Void functions, also called nonvalue-returning functions, are used just like value-returning functions except void return types do not return a value when the function is executed. The void function accomplishes its task and then returns control to the caller. The void function call is a stand-alone statement.   For example, a function that prints a message doesnt return a value. The code in C takes the form: void printmessage ( ) {   cout Im a function that prints a message!; } int main ( ) {   printmessage ( ); } A void  function uses a heading that names the function followed by a pair of parentheses. The name is preceded by the word void, which is the type. Void as a Function Parameter The void can also appear in the parameter list part of the code to indicate the function takes no actual parameters. C can take the empty parentheses, but C requires the word void in this usage.  In C, the code takes the form: void  printmessage  (void ) {   cout   Im a function that prints a message!; Note that the parentheses that follow the function name are not optional in any case. Void  as a Pointer Declaration The third use of void is a pointer declaration that equates to a  pointer to something left unspecified, which is useful to programmers who write functions that store or pass pointers without  using them. Eventually, it must be cast to another pointer before it is dereferenced. A void pointer points to objects of any data type.

Fresh Meat and Fish in the Middle Ages

Fresh Meat and Fish in the Middle Ages Depending on their status in society and where they lived, medieval people had a variety of meats to enjoy. But thanks to Fridays, Lent, and various days deemed meatless by the Catholic Church, even the wealthiest and most powerful people did not eat meat or poultry every day. Fresh fish was fairly common, not only in coastal regions, but inland, where rivers and streams were still teeming with fish in the Middle Ages, and where most castles and manors included well-stocked fish ponds. Those who could afford spices used them liberally to enhance the flavor of meat and fish. Those who could not afford spices used other flavorings like garlic, onion, vinegar and a variety of herbs grown throughout Europe. The use of spices and their importance has contributed to the misconception that it was common to use them to disguise the taste of rotten meat. However, this was an uncommon practice perpetrated by underhanded butchers and vendors who, if caught, would pay for their crime. Meat in Castles and Manor Homes A large portion of the foodstuffs served to the residents of castles and manor homes came from the land on which they lived. This included wild game from nearby forests and fields, meat and poultry from the livestock they raised in their pastureland and barnyards, and fish from stock ponds as well as from the rivers, streams and seas. Food was used swiftly usually within a few days, and sometimes on the same day and if there were leftovers, they were gathered up as alms for the poor and distributed daily. Occasionally, meat procured ahead of time for large feasts for the nobility would have to last a week or so before being eaten. Such meat was usually large wild game like deer or boar. Domesticated animals could be kept on the hoof until the feast day drew near, and smaller animals could be trapped and kept alive, but big game had to be hunted and butchered as the opportunity arose, sometimes from lands several days travel away from the big event. There was often concern from those overseeing such victuals that the meat might go off before it came time to serve it, and so measures were usually taken to salt the meat to prevent rapid deterioration. Instructions for removing outer layers of meat that had gone bad and making wholesome use of the remainder have come down to us in extant cooking manuals. Be it the most sumptuous of feasts or the more modest daily meal, it was the lord of the castle or manor, or the highest-ranking resident, his family, and his honored guests who would receive the most elaborate dishes and, consequently, the finest portions of meat. The lower the status of the other diners, the further away from the head of the table, and the less impressive their food. This could mean that those of low rank did not partake of the rarest type of meat, or the best cuts of meats, or the most fancily-prepared meats; but they ate meat nonetheless. Meat for Peasants and Village-Dwellers Peasants rarely had much fresh meat of any kind. It was illegal to hunt in the lords forest without permission, so, in most cases, if they had game it would have been poached, and they had every reason to cook it and dispose of the remains the very same day it was killed. Some domestic animals such as cows and sheep were too large for everyday fare and were reserved for the feasts of special occasions like weddings, baptisms, and harvest celebrations. Chickens were ubiquitous, and most peasant families (and some city families) had them; but people would enjoy their meat only after their egg-laying days (or hen-chasing days) were over. Pigs were very popular, and could forage just about anywhere, and most peasant families had them. Still, they werent numerous enough to slaughter every week, so the most was made of their meat by turning it into long-lasting ham and bacon. Pork, which was popular in all levels of society, would be an unusual meal for peasants. Fish could be had from the sea, rivers and streams, if there were any nearby, but, as with hunting the forests, the lord could claim the right to fish a body of water on his lands as part of his demesne. Fresh fish was not often on the menu for the average peasant. A peasant family would usually subsist on pottage and porridge, made from grain, beans, root vegetables and pretty much anything else they could find that might taste good and provide sustenance, sometimes enhanced with a little bacon or ham. Meat in Religious Houses Most rules followed by monastic orders limited the consumption of meat or forbade it altogether, but there were exceptions. Sick monks or nuns were allowed meat to aid their recovery. The elderly were allowed meat the younger members were not, or were given greater rations. The abbot or abbess would serve meats to guests and partake, as well. Often, the entire monastery or convent would enjoy meat on feast days. And some houses allowed meat every day but Wednesday and Friday. Of course, fish was an entirely different matter, being the common substitute for meat on meatless days. How fresh the fish would be depended on whether or not the monastery had access to, and fishing rights in, any streams, rivers or lakes. Because monasteries or convents were mostly self-sufficient, the meat available to the brothers and sisters was usually pretty much the same as that served in a manor or castle, although the more common foodstuffs like chicken, beef, pork and mutton would be more likely than swan, peacock, venison or wild boar. Continued on Page Two: Meat in Towns and Cities Meat in Towns and Cities In towns and small cities, many families had enough land to support a little livestock usually a pig or some chickens, and sometimes a cow. The more crowded the city was, however, the less land there was for even the most modest forms of agriculture, and the more foodstuffs had to be imported. Fresh fish would be readily available in coastal regions and in towns by rivers and streams, but inland towns could not always enjoy fresh seafood and might have to settle for preserved fish. City dwellers usually purchased their meat from a butcher, often from a stall in a marketplace but sometimes in a well-established shop. If a housewife bought a rabbit or duck to roast or use in a stew, it was for that mid-day dinner or that evenings meal; if a cook procured beef or mutton for his cookshop or street vending business, his product wouldnt be expected to keep for more than a day. Butchers were wise to offer the freshest meats possible for the simple reason that theyd go out of business if they didnt. Vendors of pre-cooked fast food, which a large portion of city dwellers would frequent due to their lack of private kitchens, were also wise to use fresh meat, because if any of their customers got sick it wouldnt take long for word to spread. This is not to say there werent cases of shady butchers attempting to pass off older meat as fresh or underhanded vendors selling reheated pasties with older meat. Both occupations developed a reputation for dishonesty that has characterized modern views of medieval life for centuries. However, the worst problems were in crowded cities such as London and Paris, where crooks could more easily avoid detection or apprehension, and where corruption among city officials (not inherent, but more common than in smaller towns) made their escapes easier. In most medieval towns and cities, the selling of bad food was neither common nor acceptable. Butchers who sold (or tried to sell) old meat would face severe penalties, including fines and time in the pillory, if their deception was discovered. A fairly substantial number of laws were enacted concerning guidelines for proper management of meat, and in at least one case the butchers themselves drew up regulations of their own. Available Meat, Fish and Poultry Though pork and beef, chicken and goose, and cod and herring were among the most common and abundant types of meat, fowl and fish eaten in the Middle Ages, they were only a fraction of what was available. To find out the variety of meats medieval cooks had in their kitchens, visit these resources: Types of MeatTypes of FowlTypes of FishMedieval Food Preservation

Gasoline consumption vs. SUV's popularity Research Paper

Gasoline consumption vs. SUV's popularity - Research Paper Example The numerous pros associated with SUVs however are accompanied by certain cons chief of which is their high fuel consumption and related high pollution levels. This paper will discuss the popularity of SUVs vis-a vis their fuel consumption. In some countries including the United States, the Sports Utility Vehicle is considered a light truck and therefore is subject to less strict regulation compared to passenger vehicles. In the US, the Clean Air Act that governs environmental pollution as well as the Energy Policy and Conservation Act that governs fuel economy have soft landings on SUVs (Yacobucci, 2003). The popularity of SUV vehicles started rising in the 90s and early 2000s with vehicle manufactures making a move to avoid what they considered over-regulation. . The vehicles which are commonly known as 4-wheel drive vehicles, 4x4s, 4WDs include vehicles such as the Land Rover, Jeep, Range Rover, Land Cruiser and the Chevrolet Blazer (Keith, 2002). The ports Utility Vehicle has gained a lot of popularity over the years especially in Australia, Canada and the United States of America. This trend has taken root in other parts of the world, Africa and Asia not being left behind. In some places where there is limited road coverage, the vehicles are preferred to conventional vehicles. For the last two and half decades, SUVs have become a common phenomenon in roads across the world, they being associated with luxury, class, and ambience. The vehicles have larger cabins compared to conventional cars and can be used to haul loads such as caravans, boats and trailers. A lot of the SUVs’ popularity has been credited to their funky images; the reason women also prefer them to other vehicles in the United States. The vehicles are also associated with strength, security, high storage capacity, all terrain handling, high range, and many other qualities that are associated with good performance. In spite of their

Communication and Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Communication and Conflict - Essay Example It is hot and pounding and threatens to deform our lives. Conflict is a blacksmith’s forge. It is the process of going through searing fire and being hammered and pummelled and twisted into shape. It is struggling at the hand of the blacksmith but being helpless to defend oneself. It is undergoing tribulation to the point where one feels he could go no further, and then getting his second wind and finding he could go a bit further. But there is something good about going through the forge and suffering the blacksmith’s blows. The searing heat burns away the impurities to expose the glowing metal beneath. The blows shape and the grind sharpens until a metallic masterpiece materializes from the shapeless clump of matter. The challenge is to be brave enough to go through the forge. In this sense, conflict is good because it brings out the best in us. It makes us aware that we can go as far as we can, and then a bit further. It tells us that to be shaped into a work of art or a samurai sword, we have to first be malleable and compliant, and allow change to happen. Finally, conflict is beneficial, because it means we trust the Blacksmith to create a thing of beauty out of us that initially only He can see, and trust that He shall not pass us through the forge more than is necessary to bring out the remarkable strength hidden within us.

Reflection on marketing practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reflection on marketing practice - Essay Example Ettore Bugatti and his son, Jean, synthesized both technology and art that, to this moment, have been the reason for the Bugatti’s dominance among the sports cars. While art describes the design philosophy of the Bugatti cars, technology defines their unequalled technical supremacy. Furthermore, David et al. make a situational analysis of the Bugatti cars by indicating that the current Bugatti model in the market is the Veyron 16.4. In accordance with the presentation, this version has a top speed of 253.81 miles per hour and a 16-cylinder combustion engine with 1200 horsepower. The presenters also mention that Bugatti makes sixteen different car models with a maximum price of â‚ ¬2,000,000. In addition, the presenters list the project’s principal objectives and further quote automobile enthusiasts, business people, industrialists, and the public as the target audience for the brand. For the target media, the presentation considers TV advertisements, car magazine, Auto shows, and social media as the means of reaching the target audience for this brand. David et al. also recognize community approach and investment into a share of both Formula 1 and fashion merchandise as the most practical marketing strategies Bugatti should utilize. The teaser campaign would involve the use of video teasers, billboards, and posters comprising of an attractive slogan. For the premier launching event, the presenters propose that Bugatti should display cars, which consist of two old Bugatti versions and three new models. At the end of the presentation, David et al. list the Bugatti campaign budget and the future of the new Bugatti. The presenters hold that the new Bugatti model woul d possibly have a top speed of 288 miles per hour. This presentation highlights the typical mistakes and inaccuracies that marketing agencies and individuals often make when preparing a teaser campaign for a new product. In keeping with Thorbjornsen, Ketelaar, Riet, and

A ban on the wearing of items of clothing and other symbols of Essay

A ban on the wearing of items of clothing and other symbols of religious significance - Essay Example These Islamic dresses have raised various questions related to gender equality, freedom of religion and liberalism, and currently these issues are under serious contentions in Western Europe. Within this atmosphere of hot debate, France, which has around five million Muslims (the largest in population of Muslims in Western Europe), has taken a ?rm stand and became the first nation to pass a legislation that banned both headscarves and full veils (BBC News, The Islamic Veil Across Europe, 22nd September 2011). As per the legislation which became effective from 11 April 2011, it is now illegal for women in France (French or foreign), to leave their homes with their face covered with a veil, and women found flouting rules are liable to pay a heavy fine. UK, which promotes multiculturalism, have not imposed any ban on clothing or other accessories with religious significance; however, schools are allowed to establish their own dress code following a 2007 court directive (BBC News, The Is lamic Veil Across Europe, 22nd September 2011). However currently in UK, Face Coverings (Regulation) Bill 2010/11 brought in by Mr Philip Hollobone is under consideration, which proposes to ban the covering of faces in public spaces (Face Coverings (Regulation) Bill 2010/11, 2011). ... Russian Supreme Court had ordered a complete ban on use of veils in public spaces and offices, which is however not followed in Chechnya. In Germany, even though the court ruled in favour of a teacher wanting to wear a scarf to school, there are provisions for modifying laws locally, and many states have imposed a ban on Islamic veils. Austria and Switzerland are also considering a probable ban, in case there are too many women wearing the veil (ibid). From a scholarly viewpoint, even though the hijab and the niqab may have various cultural and religious connotations, but in the context of present debates over issues of gender equality and tolerance, there are claims that Muslims often tend to use veils to make their presence felt in the European countries (Teitelbaum, 2011). It is owing to such suggestions that the issue of wearing veils has currently taken a political shape, and many citizens and politicians view Islamic veils as a sign of radical Islam or fundamentalism. In the co ntext of the current debate, that questions the reasoning behind implementing a legal ban on wearing of Islamic veils, there are varying viewpoints. According to the Commissioner  of Human Rights (Council of Europe) Thomas Hammarberg, this ban on veils would not help to achieve the desired effects of gender equality or end oppression of Muslim women. Instead, he claimed, â€Å"Prohibition of the burqa and the niqab would not liberate oppressed women, but might instead lead to their further alienation in European societies. A general ban on such attires would constitute an ill-advised invasion of individual privacy. Depending on its precise terms, a prohibition also

Piracy Off Coast of Somalia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Piracy Off Coast of Somalia - Essay Example The Northwestern region of Somalia declared themselves independent in 1991 and in 1998 the Northeastern region established the Puntland State of Somalia. (Ould-Abdallah, 2008). In 2002 local leaders in Baidoa also established a Southwestern State of Somalia. Background shows that before 1990 piracy was not a serious problem on the coast of Somalia. There were a few small incidents with fishing boats, leisure craft and ships, but nothing serious. However, in the 1990s a more organized form of piracy was seen in armed groups attacking vessels claiming to be Coast Guards protecting territorial waters of Somalia. This form of piracy expanded in 2000 to any seafaring vessels that came within or even close to Somalia’s territorial waters. The pirates boarded the vessels and held both ship and sailors hostage for ransom. (Ould-Abdallah, 2008). Interestingly, the pirates are not concerned with cargo or reuse of the ship; they are only concerned with obtaining the ransom. The ships are sailed to one of the bases where the pirates can obtain supplies while demands are being communicated. Since the pirates are armed, it is very difficult to attempt a rescue. The process is very open and they feel very secure that the ransom will be paid to bring the hostage situation to a safe conclusion. (Ould-Abdullah, 2008). The following research information deals with what is going on now, why we are involved, the costs, United States policies, and possible alternatives. Why Piracy in Somalia: Somalia is ravaged with social upheavals, human hardship and environmental challenges. Piracy has become a way to make quick money that is more appealing than any other means of income. There is some risk involved, but the benefits have shown to outweigh the risks. There have been few arrests and fewer injuries suffered by the pirates. (Ould-Abdullah, 2008). The country suffers from poverty, unemployment, environmental drawbacks, and low incomes. There have been lost resources due to dro ught and illegal fishing as well as security and political issues that allow piracy to continue in Somalia. Until someone comes up with a better solution for income generation and the pirates are dealt with more severely, it will continue. It is important to note that the pirates firmly believe they have every right to attack illegal vessels that are in their territorial waters. They feel that their fishing resources are being stolen daily by vessels from Europe and Asia. This has been going on for years; however, nothing has been done about it internationally. Therefore, the Somalia pirates believe their actions are warranted to control the injustice. (Ould-Abdullah, 2008). â€Å"Some pirates have claimed they act as a de facto coast guard, protecting Somalia from illegal fishing and dumping of toxic wastes.† (Minter; Volman, 2009). However, most will admit that they do it for the financial gain, even though some used to be fishermen. In the article by William Minter and Dan iel Volman in June 2009 they contend that piracy alone will not likely provoke U.S. intervention even if U.S. citizens are captured. Most of the captured hostages have been from the Philippines and other developing countries. The shipping companies see the ransom as minor expenses compared to the economic situation worldwide. (Minter; Volman, 2009). In an article by Mark Doyle in 2006 he states that the problem is generally off the long eastern coastline of

Educational Reform from a Personal Perspective Essay

Educational Reform from a Personal Perspective - Essay Example That is, I plan on becoming a better person so as to facilitate the introduction of a better educator that I believe I can become given the opportunities and challenges that are certain to come my way. For the next few years I will strive to apply the proper level of knowledge in creating different approaches in teaching that are constructive and applicable to my students. I will endeavor to incorporate technology and current trends in carrying out my academic goals and will constantly be on the lookout for current and up to-date methodologies and tenets in teaching. I will be more conscious to differences in culture, levels of perception, behavior and other factors that mark the individuality of a student and will be more receptive and responsive to the needs that such distinction may call for. Most importantly, I will work hard to prepare my students to think critically and take on responsibilities in the context of life in general and not look at the school as an indispensable ins titution that must be hurdled as an entry-way to life, but as a celebration that will mark their readiness to take on a more complex journey. †¢ What steps are necessary to get you to your goals? What obstacles might you foresee and how will you overcome them? For the following years, I plan to develop a personal teaching style that would integrate cultural, academic and behavioral diversity by establishing a learning environment that highlights personal dignity and acceptance. That is, this method would take into consideration the geographic communities around the school and will engage the students in a multi-faceted education which would bring about character formation and social awareness (Dana 2009). This method would likewise teach my students to be conscious of verbal, non-verbal, as well as verbal underpinnings in communication so as to attain a more open and interested schoolroom where the students will be conscious of their peers which would foster community collabora tion and peer support (Dewey 1997). I want to be able to establish a teaching method where the classroom is a place where the students learn and not just from their teachers, but from themselves as well. I am envisioning a transformation of the schoolroom from a place where the teachers teach and the students listen into a ceremony where everyone will take part in the teaching and everyone will benefit from learning. †¢ What is one principle from the INTASC Principles website that you feel you must improve the most to be effective in the education profession? What existing professional development programs might you pursue to address the need to improve in this area? The tenth principle under the Interstate New Teachers Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) stresses the importance of fostering interpersonal relationships in order to promote the well-being of the students and place them healthier environment that would facilitate a better academic and personal growth. I hav e always believed that learning is a process more complex that having to listen and perceive (Dana 2009). I have always believed that several factors affect learning ability and that it could not be blamed solely on state funding, federal government priorities or even the quality of the educators (Gorton 2008). After all, the government may devote billions of dollars to education and the

Piracy Off Coast of Somalia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Piracy Off Coast of Somalia - Essay Example The Northwestern region of Somalia declared themselves independent in 1991 and in 1998 the Northeastern region established the Puntland State of Somalia. (Ould-Abdallah, 2008). In 2002 local leaders in Baidoa also established a Southwestern State of Somalia. Background shows that before 1990 piracy was not a serious problem on the coast of Somalia. There were a few small incidents with fishing boats, leisure craft and ships, but nothing serious. However, in the 1990s a more organized form of piracy was seen in armed groups attacking vessels claiming to be Coast Guards protecting territorial waters of Somalia. This form of piracy expanded in 2000 to any seafaring vessels that came within or even close to Somalia’s territorial waters. The pirates boarded the vessels and held both ship and sailors hostage for ransom. (Ould-Abdallah, 2008). Interestingly, the pirates are not concerned with cargo or reuse of the ship; they are only concerned with obtaining the ransom. The ships are sailed to one of the bases where the pirates can obtain supplies while demands are being communicated. Since the pirates are armed, it is very difficult to attempt a rescue. The process is very open and they feel very secure that the ransom will be paid to bring the hostage situation to a safe conclusion. (Ould-Abdullah, 2008). The following research information deals with what is going on now, why we are involved, the costs, United States policies, and possible alternatives. Why Piracy in Somalia: Somalia is ravaged with social upheavals, human hardship and environmental challenges. Piracy has become a way to make quick money that is more appealing than any other means of income. There is some risk involved, but the benefits have shown to outweigh the risks. There have been few arrests and fewer injuries suffered by the pirates. (Ould-Abdullah, 2008). The country suffers from poverty, unemployment, environmental drawbacks, and low incomes. There have been lost resources due to dro ught and illegal fishing as well as security and political issues that allow piracy to continue in Somalia. Until someone comes up with a better solution for income generation and the pirates are dealt with more severely, it will continue. It is important to note that the pirates firmly believe they have every right to attack illegal vessels that are in their territorial waters. They feel that their fishing resources are being stolen daily by vessels from Europe and Asia. This has been going on for years; however, nothing has been done about it internationally. Therefore, the Somalia pirates believe their actions are warranted to control the injustice. (Ould-Abdullah, 2008). â€Å"Some pirates have claimed they act as a de facto coast guard, protecting Somalia from illegal fishing and dumping of toxic wastes.† (Minter; Volman, 2009). However, most will admit that they do it for the financial gain, even though some used to be fishermen. In the article by William Minter and Dan iel Volman in June 2009 they contend that piracy alone will not likely provoke U.S. intervention even if U.S. citizens are captured. Most of the captured hostages have been from the Philippines and other developing countries. The shipping companies see the ransom as minor expenses compared to the economic situation worldwide. (Minter; Volman, 2009). In an article by Mark Doyle in 2006 he states that the problem is generally off the long eastern coastline of

Eisenhower Comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Eisenhower Comparison - Essay Example Greenstein who, in his article â€Å"A Look at the Evidence† characterized Eisenhower as an astute politician who was actively involved in shaping public policies and carefully considered all aspects of an issue before making a decision. Greenstein faults the false perception of Eisenhower to his inconspicuous, low-key leadership approach which served him well in managing the victory in WWII and was also effective during his two terms as President. As might be expected, there is little to compare in these two articles, each presenting opposing views regarding the effectiveness of this particular former President. Brand’s article characterizes Eisenhower based primarily upon his effectiveness as a leader in developing a National Security policy, an on-going practice throughout his term of office that provided few acceptable conclusions. This analysis is based primarily upon outside evidence as seen in the actual events that unfolded rather than through any kind of inside evidence that details the president’s actual involvement in the discussions that were held. For example, much of the article focuses upon the actions of Congress and of specialized committees that were convened to discuss the various issues involved in nuclear armament.

Legal Framework - Employement Act Essay Example for Free

Legal Framework Employement Act Essay The company complained that Encik Pokok’s application for leave was only received by Encik Bunga on the 26th November 1996. The leave application was not approved because it was not following the company procedure and secondly, reasonable excuse was not given. Encik Pokok was dismissed without internal inquiry done. Encik Pokok claimed that he had submitted his leave application on the 23rd November 1996. His application was pass to his friend to be given to his supervisor, Encik Daun. He assumed that his leave application was authorized. Encik Pokok said that he went to the Pejabat Kadi on the 23rd November 1996 to settle his sister in law’s case and the next two days, to celebrate their engagement. For the 26th November 1996, he claimed he went to the labour office in Temerloh with his friend. Due to fatigue, he did not go to work. He made a verbal leave application to the company through one of the company’s officers who was available at that time. Encik Pokok claimed that he was unlawfully terminated. He complained that internal inquiry had to be done prior to his termination because it violates Section 14 of the Employment Act 1955 and Item 35 of the joint agreement. Power to make awards 35. —(1) A Court shall have power in relation to a trade dispute of which it has cognizance to make an award (including an interim award) relating to all or any of the industrial matters in dispute. (1A) A Court shall not consider a dispute relating to the dismissal of an employee or make an award relating to the reinstatement of an employee except in circumstances arising out of a contravention of section 82. 2) Notwithstanding subsection (1A), where an employee considers that he has been dismissed without just cause or excuse by his employer, in circumstances other than those arising out of a contravention of section 82, he may, within one month of such dismissal, make, through his trade union, representations in writing to the Minister to be reinstated in his former employment (3) The M inister may, before making decision on any such representations, by writing under his hand request the Commissioner to inquire into the dismissal and report whether in his opinion the dismissal is without just cause or excuse instated in his former employment. (4) The Minister, if he decides to deal with the representations himself, shall before making a decision thereon give an opportunity to the employer to make representations in writing as to the reasons why he considered the dismissal of the employee to be justified. 5) If, after considering the representations of the trade union and of the employer (if any) and any report made by the Commissioner under subsection (3), the Minister is satisfied that the employee has been dismissed without just cause or excuse he may, notwithstanding any rule of law or agreement to the contrary — (a) direct the employer to reinstate the employee in his former employment and to pay the employee an amount that is equivalent to the wages that the employee would have earned had he not been dismissed by the employer; or (b) direct the employer to pay such amount of wages as compensation as may be determined by the Minister. 5A) The employer shall comply with the direction of the Minister under subsec tion (5). (6) The decision of the Minister on any representations made under this section shall be final and conclusive and shall not be challenged in any court or in a Court established under this Act. 7) Any direction by the Minister under subsection (5) shall operate as a bar to any action for damages by the employee in any court in respect of the wrongful dismissal (8) An employer who fails to comply with the direction of the Minister under subsection (5) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction by a District Court to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both. 9) Where an amount to be paid under subsection (5) is not paid in accordance with the direction of the Minister and the employer has been convicted of an offence under subsection (8), the amount, or so much thereof as remains unpaid, shall be recoverable by a District Court as if it were a fine and the amount so recovered shall be paid to the employe e entitled under the direction. Answer: As the defending lawyer, the Company did not make a correct decision in terminating Encik Pokok. The reason is because Encik Pokok has attempted to inform the Company by submitting the leave application form to Encik Daud through his friend on 23rd Nov 1996. Encik Pokok also made a verbal application for leave on the 26th November 1996 through a company official on duty at that time. This would mean that technically he was not absent for more than two consecutive days. Therefore ; According to Employment Act 1955, section 15(2), An employee shall be deemed to have broken his contract of service with the employer if he has been continuously absent from work for more than two consecutive working days without prior leave from his employer, unless he has a reasonable excuse for such absence and has informed or attempted to inform his employer of such excuse prior to or at the earliest opportunity during such absence. The Company also failed to conduct a domestic inquiry to give Encik Pokok a chance to defend himself and offer reasonable excuse why he failed to turn up for work. Therefore Section 14(1) of the Employment Act applies. According to Employment Act 1955 section 14(1), An employer may, on the grounds of misconduct inconsistent with the fulfillment of the express or implied condition of his service, after a due inquiry – (a) Dismiss without notice the employee; Habitual absenteeism (of less than two days at a time but on a frequent basis) would be defined as unauthorized absence from work on a certain number of days per month over a 6 month period. Initially warnings would be given, but if the absence persists, the employee may face dismissal. The failure to be punctual would be treated the same way as habitual absenteeism. In this case, the company failed to show whether Encik Pokok is a habitual absentee by not producing historical records of his attendance. However reported cases show that a breach of contract and termination are dealt as separate issues. As such a breach of contract may not lead to an automatic termination of employment. The consequence of such a breach would depend on the conditions of employment. Conclusion Encik Pokok was a victim of wrongful dismissal and the company must reinstate him immediately. The company has the right to issue written warning for the 24th and 25th November 1996 for unauthorized leave. Question 3 (b) You are defending lawyer for the Company. Has the Company made a correct decision in terminating Mr. Good . Discuss? Case facts: Mr. Good was charged with sleeping while on duty on 12th June 1997 at 7. 30pm in the music room at Tan Sri William Cheng’s house in Petaling Jaya. Mr. Good was instructed Vide a letter on 17th June 1997 to attend an inquiry on 20th June 1997 to hear the charge. Mr. Good says that he had been dismissed without due inquire. He denied that he had committed the offence alleged of and argued that the company had merely acted on suspicion. Answer: Company did not make a correct decision. This is due to the fact that Mr. Good was not caught sleeping red handed and Mr. Bad and Miss Sexy’s allegations were only implied. There were actually no eye witnesses. The court may conclude as it is only allegation as there is no evidence of Mr. Good committing the misconduct, as such the Company even failed to: 1) The Company did not conduct a domestic inquiry. The company should call for domestic inquire as it is an internal inquiry into some alleged misconduct by an employee. The main objectives of the domestic inquiry are to establish whether the alleged misconduct is proven or not and if the misconduct is proven, to recommend a punishment that is appropriate to the offence committed. The complainant is normally the management of the company but sometimes, can also be the victim of the alleged misconduct. At the domestic inquiry, the employer will present its case and the employee is given an equal opportunity to defend himself against the charges of misconduct. Under Employment Act 1955 Section14 (1) where an employer may on the grounds of misconduct inconsistent with the fulfillment of the express of implied conditions of his service, after due inquiry – 2) Absence of show cause letter or letter of disciplinary, As to Mr. Bad and Ms. Sexy’s statement on Mr. Good was caught committing the same offence 3 years ago, there were no records as the company did not issue any show cause letter or letter of disciplinary action. Conclusion The Company did not follow the proper dismissal procedures in accordance to Employment Act 1955, which relates to misconduct.

Sams :: essays research papers fc

Ancient Egyptian Burial A profound belief in life after death is why burials in ancient Egypt are so elaborate. There was two different ways to artificially preserve bodies. When the Ancient Egyptians buried their dead they did not want the bodies to be washed away by the floods. They also didn’t want to use up valuable farmland for cemeteries. The dead were buried close to the villages in the higher elevated dry deserts that covered the Nile. One-way of preserving a body was the linen and plaster method. The body would be wrapped in many layers of preservative linen. This would give the body the look of mummies that are in today’s movies. The idea of wrapping the bodies in linen was to preserve as much as the body’s features as possible. The linen and plaster was used to hold the shape of the face. Another widely used method of preserving bodies has to do with Natron. Natron is a natural salt that is found in Egypt. The salts would dry out the body parts so rotting would go slow. Salts were used to â€Å"pickle† a dead body. The Egyptians experimented with many different ways of mummifying. Only kings and their royal wives were buried in pyramids. Funerals depended on how much money you had. There were many different burials for different people. The poor, craftsmen and artists, nobles and courtiers, royal family, and the kings had different methods in which they were buried.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The poor people didn’t have very elaborate funerals. They were just buried in the sand. Given the gifts of a pot, some food and some other small goods is what poor people used to survive in the world after life. Craftsmen and artists were buried with a little more care but the burials were still not fancy at all. Buried in the fetal position they were basically just thrown in the dirt and mud. The nobles and courtiers were sometimes given the gift of a tomb. The nobles and courtiers were buried in shafts that sometimes were nice.

We Must Put an End to Child Brides in Turkey Essay -- Argumentative Es

Even though Turkey raised the minimum age of marriage to 17 years of age in 2007, the country currently has one of the highest rates of child marriage in Europe. Although the legal age is 17, under a legal provision for â€Å"exceptional circumstances† a family can apply for the consent of the courts to legally marry off a child who is younger than the established legal age. However, what is considered an â€Å"exceptional circumstance† is rather vague. Although Turkey already has laws in place to protect children, countless young underage girls are married off by their families each year. Child marriage is not just a family issue -- it is a human rights violation and it needs to be addressed as such with the legal circles in Turkey. In 2011, Turkey signed the Council of Europe convention aimed at combatting violence against women, which includes enacting laws that view child marriage as a crime. Even though Turkey is a signatory to the agreement, the rate of child marriages in the country continues to climb each year. Even though families may be aware of the laws regarding marriage, many prefer to avoid those legalities by marrying their children off in religious ceremonies, which are often not reported to the authorities. Therefore, it is difficult to find an accurate account of child brides in Turkey. According to reports, there are an estimated 180,000 child brides in the country. However, this statistic does not reflect the unknown number of religious marriages that are not legal or reported to the state. Some reports place the actual figure as high as one-third of all marriages in Turkey involving at least one partner who is below the legal age of consent. One has to wonder just how the number of illegal and underage marriages... ...egal marriages should be forced, with no exceptions, to accept the legal consequences of their actions. Communities must stop turning a blind eye to this form of child abuse and start speaking out. By depriving a girl of her childhood, her life and her dreams are seen as unimportant. All children deserve an education. They all deserve the opportunity to have financial stability in their lives. Every child should have the chance to experience a childhood and not be sold, traded or bought as a child bride. By law, a child cannot be forced into marriage when they are under the legal age of consent. However, too many have winked and looked the other way for too long as young girls were sent off to new homes as the â€Å"gelin† or young bride. This attitude must change if women are ever to take their rightful place in Turkish society. Anything less is an insult to all women.

Reaction Paper †Social Responsibility Essay

This chapter tells about the employees as stakeholders of a company or a business. As stakeholders, employees have also the rights and privileges which are due for them. With this rights they have, some responsibilities are also expected of them as part of the company. In the same way, they also have some employee contract which they know among themselves that guide them as they go along with their routine in their workplaces. It also discusses some ethical responsibilities to employees which are very essential to satisfy their needs and thus, make them as productive individuals. Every stakeholder of a company has their own rights with corresponding responsibilities. These must be given to them with due respect. It may differ depending on how they function in a company and how they can affect in the company’s performance. Nevertheless, each functions is essential and vital to the company’s operations, thus, each individual must also be given the rights which are really due for them. In my opinion, learning about employee relationship is the same way of learning how to deal with your employees. It is like knowing what motivates your employees to do well and how will you make them stay. Establishing or building a good relationship is very important in a company because it can greatly the company’s overall performance of the company. If a company has established a good employee relationship and employees has the initiative to do things, then we can say that they are employer of choice. This means they were able to choose correctly who among the employees are best suited in the job and they were able to provide them with benefits which make them stay in their job. There are many ways to manage your workforce and if situations call for an employee reduction, this means one has to reduce its workforce either because of lessening of needed labor, decreasing the quality of service or because of lack of resources to pay for the expenses. In this way, the company must also keep the good relationship despite the scenario. From employee entrance to exit, a good relationship must be kept. In general, this chapter is very useful for business people because it tells about another very important stakeholder of a company which are the employees. They are very essential to a company’s operations and transaction. Without them a specific operation will not be done and whether big or small job, it is essential and will have an impact on the company. But, in return the company must protect the rights and ad individuality of the employees. They must be given proper motivation and be compensated with enough benefits which is enough with the type of job they have done. Also, their ideas and privacy must be protected by the company. Whatever their positions maybe, they must be respected and treated fairly and equally. In this way, they can establish a good employee relationship which will be reflected Chapter 8 – Consumer Relations Another stakeholder of the company are the consumers. They are the ones who purchase, use and dispose of products for themselves an truly they play an important role in the operations of the company. Just like the other stakeholders, they have the rights and privileges which they should receive from the company. These are the things the company must consider to be able to provide their needs and satisfy their wants as well. As a company, they have some responsibilities to all their stakeholders like the consumer. It is true that fulfilling these responsibilities can make the consumer stay and help to establish a good relationship among them. In the long run, it can develop loyalty among their consumers. Looking on the economic aspects, it is proven that consumers and the company are connected by an economic relationship. There is a bond between the two which creates a relationship among them. It is money. True enough, money is a vital tool in economic development. Though we may say that it does not measure the economic growth of the country, its circulation creates a great impact in the measurement of growth, which is, still considered with some factors. Also, as a consumer, I expect my money to get the value from what I buy. The company must see to it that they are able to give the value of the  money the consumers pay for in exchange of the product or service. In the same way, it is a relief for consumers to know that there are some laws provided to protect their rights and to attend to their needs when situation calls for it. Like in the Philippines, the Republic Act 7394: The Consumer Act of the Philippines protects the consumer to possible threats like fraud from the company. But, sad to say, even with the existence of this act, there are still some misconducts and mischiefs done by the company. It is unfair for the consumers who become the victim of the company. This is not being socially responsible to as a stakeholder of the company. Some companies try to deceive their consumer by telling false information about what they sell. On the other hand, there are also those who follow the laws like providing warranties and others. With all these aspects come the rights of the consumers which include the right to choose, safety, be informed, heard, seek redress and privacy. With all these rights, I supposed right which is not fully given to consumers is the right to privacy. With the rise of the new technologies of today, privacy is quite forgotten. Information, ideas, photos, videos, files and others are being stolen by people through technology. It is part of the consumers to have their privacy whether they have given their information to the company. With this, the responsibility has been passed to the company to give their consumer the privacy they want. They should secure the information they have gathered and use it for business purposes in the right manner and with the consent of the consumer. Lastly, the philanthropic aspects are now given more attention by the company. Social responsibility has been a part of every organization now a days. This increases their attention to choose the company because of the philanthropic activities they are involved in. It attracts the consumer with the mindset that if the join the company or buy in that brand, they can also help the beneficiaries of the company. Chapter 9 – Community Relations and Strategic Philanthropy This chapter focuses on another stakeholder which is the community. They are  those members of society who are aware of, concerned about, or in some way affected by the operations and output of the organization. They may be the people around which also includes the environment they are living into. All the aspects which are being affected by the company operation directly or indirectly are part of it. These are also affected by several through several aspects in social responsibility. In this generation, there are many issues that concern the community. Issues include mostly of the environmental issue that is caused by the operations of the company. The degradation of the beauty of our mother earth due to some companies is very visible and greatly felt because of those failed to take into considerations the effect to its stakeholders. Pollution and land use are some of it. Like in Manila, pollution has been a problem for a long time. Many companies are continuously performing their operations without considering its effects to the community. Big factories are some of those who continuously contribute to the pollution. Also, another very popular issue regarding the land use is the reclamation being done for business establishments. Like the SM Mall of Asia. The land used for that establishment has been reclaimed. This is one example of company operations that affect the community. Philanthropic contributions of the company to the community are very essential for the stakeholders. It affects on how the will brand or see the image of the company. This aspect of the company must be properly planned to achieve what is really wanted. This chapter also talks about how a company can properly strategize for its philanthropic implementation. Through a strategic planning of philanthropic implementation, there can be a higher chances that the actions to be taken are feasible and will work in the benefit of the company. It can be done through a step by step procedure which is research, organize and design, engage and spend. Through this steps, it can be properly executed and will surely help in the operations of the company. As a community, they always look after the general welfare of everyone who is a member of their community. In that aspect, the company’s philanthropic strategy is very important. Through this, they can address the needs and concerns of their key stakeholders. This is what social responsibility is  all about. Taking into consideration all the key stakeholder of the company must always be done. It is important to satisfy their needs and wants so that every aspect of the company can function effectively and efficiently. In this way, all the members of the organization will function well and it will be reflected on the overall image of the company. Having a positive community relations and a strategic philanthropy can only be achieved if the people behind a company or a business is truly socially responsible. Doing what is right and what is just for your stakeholders like the community is being socially responsible. Chapter 10 – Technology Issues Technology has been very evident in every business establishment now a days. Even small businesses are making use of technology like calculator, cashiers, refrigerators and others. All of these things are product of technology and truly, they are a big help in the operations of the business. But, looking on the other side, technology can also cause destruction to a company. For example in a small business like computer shop. When the system or server is down, there can be no operations accomplished or if there is no internet connection. This is one disadvantage of technology. When there is a failure, sometimes it takes time to be fixed or sometimes cannot be fixed. Despite this, people continues to entrust their equities to technology. Technology helps businesses in their operations in every aspect. It makes the work easier and faster thus, as a result, there is a lesser requirement of manpower. This means fewer people are employed in the company. Let’s take Gardenia for example. They are known for the breads which are untouched by human hands. They made this possible through technology. Machineries take the responsibilities of a worker in the production. Thus, the only person they need is those who will man and control them. But, in brighter side, there are some new job opportunities due to the rise of technology. Technology is fast changing. In effect, the businesses need to adapt to the changes so that they can cope up with their competitors and provide the  changing need of the consumers. Improved products are produced due to this. Thus, a higher standard of living was also set because of technology. These things affect the growth of the economy of the country. With the rise of the new emerging technology, there came the emergence of the Internet which helps businesses’ transaction. It helps them to have a more targeted market, to have a closer relationship with their consumer and to have a facilitated supply chain management. Despite these things, the internet also made fraud dramatically increase in number. There are many incidents of crime in the cyber space. The most common are piracy and identity theft. The government is taking action to this issue. There are laws which provides protection and assistance to the information sent and received through the internet. Here in the Philippines, the recently passed law on cyber crime provides protection to the people the internet. In general, technology has many advantages that it can provide to companies and businesses. It is really a big help in their operations and transactions. It also makes the work faster and easier with a better quality produced not only in business aspects but also in all the other transactions in our daily life. Despite the number of advantages, technology has also it disadvantages. It is up to the company or the business if they will use the technology with social responsibility among their stake holders which include the shareholders, employees and consumer. Chapter 11 – Sustainability Issues This chapter focuses on a company’s sustainability. It refers to the potential for long-term well-being of the natural environment, including all biological entities, as well as the interaction among nature and individuals, organizations, and business strategies. Right now, companies are having a hard time to sustain a healthy environment for their stakeholders due to the operations they are undertaking. Sustainability includes the assessment and improvement of business strategies, economic sectors, work practices, technologies, and lifestyles while maintaining the natural environment One very evident issue is on nature. It includes all the resources like air, water and land. The issues are concerning on the destruction of these resources due to the establishment of the companies. Reclamation is now being done very often to pride land for new business establishment like the famous, and before very controversial, Mall of Asia. The land used to build the mall was formerly a part of the sea. It was cover with land and used as a site for business. This is just one of the issues. Other includes deforestation, pollution and development sprawl that affect the other living organisms. Due to the issues on the environment stated above, some wildlife or living things in the ecosystem are threatened. Their habitats are being destroyed or even the food they eat are being eaten up by the new establishments. In the same way, pollution has also an effect on nature. The clean air that we should be breathing is polluted by the smoke from the factories or the vehicles that we use. These actions can cause destruction to the nature that will hinder us from maintaining the sustainability of a certain organization or a company. Like in the technological issues, the government is also taking action to the sustainability issues globally. There are some laws and policies implemented for the protection and maintenance of sustainability in the place. Like in the Philippines, There are many organizations specializing in the protection of a certain natural resources. Though there are times that they cannot function well due to the lack of budget, they still do their best to maintain the order in it. In the same way, the businesses and companies are doing their best to eliminate the operations that are harmful to the environment. One example is the campaign against using plastics in any transaction. Whether in food, clothes or any product. They are using brown bags or ec0-friendly bags to hold their things. This campaign had gone all over the country. It starts from small businesses and to small town then cities and municipalities. I am from Batangas and my city has already embraced that campaign. There are  also other actions undertaken like using refrigerators or air cons that do not emit CFC which is harmful for our ozone layer. Sustainability of a certain place or company is hard to achieve but it is possible with the help and cooperation of all the stakeholder of the family. Also, it can only be achieved if everyone is socially responsible about their actions and how it can affect the other people around them. Chapter 12 – Social Responsibility in a Global Environment Due to the fast changing and evolving technological advancements worldwide, the marketplace for companies has also grown globally and thus, the need to adapt to the environment. There is a bigger arena for a larger number of competitors and more stakeholders to satisfy. There are different regions worldwide that has a variety of culture as well. As a company with social responsibility, they must know their culture so that they can provide their need better and with quality. At the same time, they must be familiar with the things that are prone to their culture so that they can establish a better relationship with their customers worldwide. They must gather a cultural intelligence that they can use to gauge how they should treat their stakeholders in all the parts of the world. Like in SGS, the company where I had my OJT, they have offices from all parts of the world and having Philippines as the back office. Being in this situation, they gather a cultural intelligence from all the countries they have a local office. From China, Egypt, Spain, Chile, Japan, Nigeria and etc. They have hired different nationalities that can help them to gain the cultural intelligence they need to deal with their consumers worldwide. As the back office, the Philippines must know how to understand each office because they are the one dealing with all the other countries and if they need to communicate, everything else will also pass through the Philippines. Not only with consumers. They must also know how to treat the employees from different culture. An open door policy must be imposed to encourage interaction among them. There might also be some policies or treaties  regarding salaries and wages relative to the home country’s standard and agreed upon by both of the countries. Same as with some policies and rules regarding their health and safety. One possible barrier that can hinder a smooth relationship between the company and its stakeholders is language. Communication is a vital part of an operation or transaction. If there is no proper communication, there could be misunderstanding that will lead to a failure of the business. Also, it can hinder the company from providing what the consumer really wants. Another is culture. If one did something which is against the culture of the other, this might cause a Despite the cultural differences and diversity of beliefs a company must continue to be socially responsible among its stakeholders. They must not forget their responsibility toward the people around them. Their economic, philanthropic, legal and social responsibilities must always be taken into consideration. In this way, they can have a smooth relationship with their stakeholder and thus, have a smooth sailing transaction across the globe even if it is a different environment.

Language

To have another language is to possess a second soul. † said Charlemagne, which may sound like a clich © but is actually very accurate. I believe that learning a language expands our life views and provides us some significant opportunities. Firstly, I strongly believe that the language we learn directly affects our way of thinking as we start to think in that particular language.For example Turkish is my mother tongue and I am learning English as a second language, so I know that there s not exact translation for most of the words from Turkish to English. In this situation if I think like a Turkish, I will probably be misunderstood and cannot state my ideas clearly. So I have to think like an American when I am speaking English to appropriately express my thoughts. This way I will have a different way of thinking of a different culture and I can get to know that culture better.I think this experience ives me a second identity, and this second identity diversifies the way I l ook at the things as well as my knowledge. In other words, I become a different person than I was before I learned that particular language. The other benefit of learning a second language is obviously being able to communicate with many people. Especially when a person is learning a widely spoken language like English or Spanish, it becomes a lot easier to get to know other people from different countries nd cultures.Additionally learning foreign languages provides huge benefits when it comes to the career, as it is a necessity to know foreign languages to apply for a Job or to work abroad. In conclusion learning a new language will expand our knowledge of the world as we have the mentality of a foreign culture while speaking that language and we gain a second identity with that experience. And of course new languages provide us to get to know more people and contribute to our success.

Parental Decisions Impact Childhood Obesity Essay

Society, in general, has drastically changed over the past century. Growth and expansion have paved the way for new technological advances, but not with some downfalls to go along with it. One such downfall of new technology would be the â€Å"convenience factor† (convenient stores for junk food, convenient to watch television, play video games, watch a movie, talk or text on a cellular phone as opposed to physical exercise, convenient for parents to stop by fast food as opposed to healthy meals). Lack of parental controls in these areas in conjunction with the â€Å"convenience factor† has lead to childhood obesity. This is an increasingly growing disease and will continue to be so if society does not stop being so convenient. The American Society today has become â€Å"obesogenic’, characterized by environments that promote increased food intake, unhealthy foods, and physical inactivity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). People (children and adults) spend more time in front of televisions or computers and less time exercising. We drive a car everywhere we go as opposed to walking or riding a bicycle. Children play more video games instead of playing hide and seek, which requires them to run around, being active and getting exercise. We lead busier lives so time does not allow for spending it in the kitchen preparing healthy meals. Parents live such hectic lifestyles which often lead to dining or getting take out at a fast food restaurant, making them guilty of contributing to childhood obesity. Children with obese parents are likely to follow in their parents footsteps and become obese themselves. Overweight and obesity result from an energy deficiency. This incorporates taking in too much food (too many calories) and lack of exercise; thus defining obesity. The imbalance between calories consumed and calories used can result from the influences and interactions of a number of factors, including genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors. Studies indicate that certain genetic characteristics may increase an individual’s susceptibility to excess body weight. However, this genetic susceptibility may need to exist in conjunction with contributing environmental and behavioral factors (such as a high-calorie food supply and minimal physical activity) to have a significant effect on weight. Genetic factors alone can play a role in specific cases of obesity. The genetic characteristics of the human population have not changed in the last three decades, but the prevalence of obesity has tripled among school-aged children during that time. Because the factors that contribute to childhood obesity interact with each other, it is not possible to specify one behavior as the â€Å"cause† of obesity. Behaviors include energy intake, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Home, child care, school, and community environments can influence children’s behaviors related to food intake and physical activity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). Parents in the workplace often lead demanding, hectic lifestyles that have a direct reflection on home life activities. Activities, such as eating habits for their children, are a casualty of their fast-paced environment. Such lifestyles lead to quick unhealthy meals, such as stopping at a fast-food establishment and consuming a high caloric meal. These types of meals are historically unhealthy with no nutritional value. Nutritional items, such as fruits and vegetables, are limited at these types of establishments. Healthy, home cooked meals are not the â€Å"normal† routine for parents to provide their children of this era. Time does not allow for parents to prepare healthy, home cooked meals. â€Å"The evidence is compelling that the obesity epidemic is largely caused by people’s eating unhealthy food and consuming bigger portion sizes. These unhealthy behaviors are not just a matter of poor decisions individuals make; rather, the environment in which people live determines behavioral choice† (Isaacs & Swarts, 2010). Parents’ workplace habits can directly affect their children’s daily eating routines. Children are relying on parents to provide them with healthy meals. There are many things parents can do to assist children in developing healthy eating habits. Offering fruits and vegetables, dairy products or whole grain items as nutritious snacks, as opposed to allowing them to submerge themselves in chips or sugar filled snacks, is a viable alternative to an unhealthy diet. The obesity rate for children would decrease if parents would make time to plan a healthy weekly menu. By doing so, parents are ensuring that their children get the daily recommended amount of fruits and vegetables in their diet, thus making for a healthier child. Parents should lead by example. Children need to see parents eating different things, to encourage the child to want to try new food items. â€Å"Children and adolescents are dependent on their parents for both economically and emotionally during much of this period of rapid growth† (Davies & Fitzgerald, 2008, pg. 25). One of the best ways to decrease obesity in children is to increase physical activity levels throughout the entire family. Parents, at home or at the workplace, are faced daily with busy schedules, long hours and time management issues (i. e. nsuring all required daily activities, such as household responsibilities, errands are completed). These tasks are direct contributors for the lack of time set aside for physical activity with their children. Also, parents’ daily work schedules do not allow much, if any, time to incorporate a daily physical exercise routine for their children, let alone to monitor such activities. Parents should act as role models by setting examples for their children, such as allowing their children to see them exercise and being active themselves. By â€Å"leading by example†, this should encourage children to emulate them. According to the American Heart Association and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (Payne, 2010), children should get at least 20 minutes of regular vigorous exercise that makes them sweat and breathe hard. With the apparent lack of physical activity, parents need to create an environment that is conducive to building a daily regime of physical activities that slowly grow over time. â€Å"Minutes spent playing kickball with friends during recess count toward the hour-long daily goal, as does climbing trees in the backyard after school. It doesn’t have to be all at once,’ says Nancy Brown, CEO of the AHA. ‘Kids should be doing things appropriate for their age, so that [exercise] becomes a behavior and a natural part of what they do’† (Payne, 2010). Providing just small increments of daily activity that is geared towards the child’s age category can foster a lifetime of behavioral changes that could prevent the onset of obesity at a later age. Another factor in the saga of fighting childhood obesity is the issue of safety and having a safe environment in which to add physical activity. Advocate for well-maintained, safe sidewalks and bike paths in your neighborhood, and volunteer to supervise the use of school facilities after hours. Children are more likely to want to play outside—and you’ll feel more comfortable with them doing it—if it’s safe, so attend neighborhood association or city council meetings to request proper upkeep of nearby sidewalks and paths. Also, consider gyms and tracks at local schools as options for physical activity after hours and on weekends. Often, schools are willing to make gyms and equipment available on the weekends but simply need parents to volunteer to supervise, Brown says† (Payne, 2010). This avenue of taking facilities that already exist and adding in a safety factor so that they may be used more often could reach into a vast majority of neighborhoods and schools that are currently excluding physical education programs. This seemingly mundane action by a few sets of determined parents could catch on and create new and exciting ways in which physical activities could be introduced to children. In today’s day and age of electronics, technological advances in this area continue to rise at record numbers. Features and upgrades to many electronic devices are geared toward a more convenient, user friendly target market. Such markets, unfortunately from a health perspective, are focused on our children. Convenient and satisfying methods of entertainment, such as television, movies, video games, talking/texting on cellular phones, computers, etc. far outweigh pure physical activity and exercise. Parents’ lack of control in these areas, as opposed to physical exercise, is a factor in childhood obesity. Children would rather be sedentary playing electronic games on a television, cellular phone or computer, as opposed to playing games requiring physical exercise, such as hide and seek or kickball . â€Å"The media may shape children’s food choices and caloric intake, including exposing children to persuasive messages about food, cuing them to eat, and depressing satiety cues of eating while viewing. According to estimates by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), children between 2 and 11 years are exposed to 25,600 advertisements per year, of which 5,500 (or 15 per day) are for food or beverages. A 2009 content analysis of foods advertised during children’s television programming revealed that most foods marketed to children are high in salt, sugar, and fat and low in nutritional value, and that healthy food are virtually invisible† (Jordan, 2010). This barrage of brain-altering subliminal messaging towards newly forming minds lends credence to how other areas of technology are creating pathways to enter impressionable youths. We live in a world that is technology driven in which new devices are created frequently to make life more convenient. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that television viewing by children older than two years be limited to two hours per day or less avoided altogether for children younger than two years. Surveys of United States parents found that most families do not adhere to these recommendations† (Jordan, 2010). These families that provide this amount of television viewing for their children use it as a virtual nanny to keep the child entertained and distracted throughout the day. In today’s health conscious society, there are many reasonable alternatives to just keeping a child zoned out in front of various electronic devices. One such alternative that is catching on with many families is the Nintendo Wii. â€Å"The AHA and Nintendo recently teamed up to promote the use of the Wii Fit to help Americans meet recommended physical activity guidelines. The goal of the partnership is to teach people how so-called ‘active-play’ video games encourage regular exercise. If you’re having a tough time getting your child to play outside, consider buying a video game that requires the child to get moving, Brown suggests† (Payne, 2010). The use of this new video game device has provided many families with not only an opportunity to exercise, but to also interact as a family unit. Interacting together provides an environment that can create future positive habits that might help in the obesity battle. Following recent studies on childhood obesity, it has been found that â€Å"In the United States, childhood obesity is on the rise; the percentage of obese children aged 6 to 11 more than doubled in the past two decades, while the percentage of obese adolescents aged 12 to 19 more than tripled, during the same period as well† (Li & Hooker, 2010). Medical contributors to childhood obesity, such as genetics and/or heredity, are considered uncontrollable and unchangeable to the health and well-being of a child. The imbalance between calories consumed and calories used can result from the influences and interactions of a number of factors, including genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors. Studies indicate that certain genetic characteristics may increase an individual’s susceptibility to excess body weight. However, this genetic susceptibility may need to exist in conjunction with contributing environmental and behavioral factors (such as a high-calorie food supply and minimal physical activity) to have a significant effect on weight. Genetic factors alone can play a role in specific cases of obesity† (CDC, 2009). Battling all these convenience issues will prove to be a lengthy social problem to be solved, but for the sake of future generations of children that will probably be the first to not outlive their parents, it is one that should have the highest priority. Parents establishing controls over guidelines set forth and constant monitoring of such to decrease childhood obesity is not a â€Å"sprint†, but more comparable to a â€Å"marathon†. This requires lifestyle changes both for the parent and the child. Constant monitoring on the parent’s part, along with both parent and child â€Å"staying the course† now will produce dividends for the future of a healthy America. We are all creatures of habit. In the end, the goal should always be for these changes to become second nature. We live in a society driven by a constant; change. Growth and expansion will continue to generate new technological advances, with downfalls associated. One such downfall, the â€Å"convenience factor† (convenient stores for junk food, convenient to watch television, play video games, watch a movie, talk or text on a cellular phone as opposed to physical exercise, convenient for parents to stop by fast food as opposed to healthy meals) will have a direct correlation between parental decisions and the health of children for future generations. Lack of parental controls in these areas in conjunction with the â€Å"convenience factor† will produce childhood obesity cases at record numbers. This increasingly growing disease will continue to be so if society does not stop being so convenient.